Huskers Tabbed 10th in Preseason Poll

The Nebraska gymnastics team, which returns nine letterwinners from last year's team that finished seventh at the NCAA Championships, was picked 10th in the Preseason Coaches' Poll, released yesterday by the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches (NACGC).

The Huskers, who have four returning All-Americans including first-team honorees Lora Evenstad and Brittany Skinner, must replace All-Americans Kathryn Howard and Kylie Stone in 2011. The top six teams in the 2011 preseason poll are all returning Super Six finalists. Defending 2010 National Champion UCLA was slated at first.

Others in the preseason top six are No. 2 Alabama, No. 3 Florida, No. 4 Oklahoma, No. 5 Utah and No. 6 Stanford. Rounding out the top 10 are Georgia, Oregon State, Michigan and Nebraska. The Huskers will face six teams in the top 10 this season, kicked-off with third-ranked Florida in the season opener on Jan. 7 in Gainesville, Fla. NU takes on fifth-ranked Utah in the home opener on January 22 at the Devaney Center.

Nebraska travels to Fort Worth, Texas on Jan. 29 to take on No. 2 Alabama in the Metroplex Challenge. The Huskers return home on Feb. 6 as they face No. 5 Oklahoma at the Devaney Center and take on sixth-ranked Stanford and ninth-ranked Michigan on Feb. 13 in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Fans are encouraged to come out and see the Huskers in action before they open competition as they host their final intrasquad of the year on Dec. 12 at 2 p.m. at the Devaney Center. Admission is free and open to the public.